Sewer construction.



W. B. GRAY.

SEWER CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30. 1914.

- Patented Nov. 5', 191 8;

5 AW III/$1.

WITNESSES a INVENTOR fizz/AWE GER/"f,

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

WILLIAM BEALL GRAY, 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO MARTIN J'. BANNON, 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

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To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BEALL GRAY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Louisville, in-the county of Jefler-'v My invention is an improvement in sewer construction, and has for its object-to provide a conduit of molded blocks, arranged in such manner as to provide a maximum of resistance to stress in any direction, wherein an inner and an outer series of blocks is provided, the members of eachseries being locked against displacement in any direction, and being locked to the members of the other series against displacement in any direction.

In the drawingsz- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a sewer constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the blocks of the inner series of the wall,

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified arrangement,

Fig. 4 is a partial top plan view showing the arrangement of the blocks in the two series,

Fig. 5 is a side view of a modified form of block having rabbeted ends, and

Fig. 6 is a similar view, the rabbeted ends being undercut or having inclined faces.

The improved conduit casing, sewer or other hollow or tubularstructure is composed of a series .of inner blocks and a se ries' of outer blocks locked together in such manner that there will be a maximum of re: sistance to displacement of the blocks from which the conduit is constructed in any direction, that is, outward, inward, longitudinally of the conduit or of the individual blocks away from each other.

The improved conduit is also designed for a maximum of resistance to crushing stress,

that. is, to that stress which tends to break the conduit downward. The improved conduit is formed from an inner series of blocks and an outer series, the blocks of both series being of the same length and of approximately the same width, andeach'being hollow or chambered longitudinally for the sake of lightness and to provide a maximum of strength to the amount of material used.

Specification of Letters Patent.

side edge.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

Application filed September 30, 1914. Serial No. 864,262.

Each of the blocks 1 of the inner series is I curved transversely on an arc of the curve upon which the sewer is formed, and the inner or concave face 2 of each of the said blocks is smooth, being finished with a salt glaze to provide a water proof and. insulating surface. Each of the blocks 1 is provided at one side edge with a longitudinally extending groove 3, and at the other slde edge with a longitudinally extending rib 4, the rib 4: registering with the groove 3 of the adjacent block.

Upon its upper or convex face each block is provided with two longitudinally extending grooves 5,v the said grooves being spaced apart from each other and parallel, and each of the grooves 5 has its inner side wall undercut, as indicated at 6. The outer side wall 7 of each of the grooves 5 is inclined or sloped, being parallel with the adjacent wall 6. Each of the blocks 1 is chambered longitudinally at its center as indicated at 8, the chamber extending into that portion of the block between the ooves 5, and the said block is also cham ered lon itudinally at each side of the chamber 8 as indicated at 9.

The arrangement of the inner walls 6 of the'groves 5 is such that a rib 10 is formed between the said grooves, the said rib having undercut side walls, namely, the walls 6 of the grooves 5. Preferably the side edges of the block 1 and their convex or outer faces, including the side walls and the bottom of the groove 3 and'the side walls and the top of the rib 4: and the sidewalls and the bottoms of the grooves 5 are corrugated or roughened to provide a better holding for the cement which is arranged between the blocks of a series and between the series.

Each of the blocks 11 of the outer series is of approximately thesame dimensions as the inner blocks 1, and each of the said blocks 11 is curved transversely. The outer convex face 12 of each of the blocks 11 is smooth, and salt glazed to provide insulation and to make a water tight joint. Each of the blocks 11 is provided on one side edge with a longitudinally extending groove 1?),

and at the opposite side edge with a longitudinally extending rib 14, the rib 14 registering with the groove 13 at the opposite The inner concave face of each block 11 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 15 at center, and having-1nclined or battered side walls 16. The inner face of each of the blocks 11 is also rabbeted at each side edge as indicated at 17, and the inner side wall of each rabbeted portion is undercut as indicated at 18. Each of the blocks 11 is provided with two longitudinally extending chambers or recesses 19, the wide dimensions of the said chambers or recesses being circumferential with respect to the conduit.

The arrangement of the groove 15 and the rabbeted portions 17 of the inner face of each of the outer blocks provides for two longitudinally extending ribs 20 on the 1nner faces of the said blocks, each rib having its outer wall 18 undercut and its inner wall inclined or battered. Each of the outer blocks has its side edges and its inner face including the side walls and the bottom of the groove 13 and the side walls and the top of the rib 14', and the side walls and the bot tom of the groove 15 and the rabbeted portions 17 corrugated or roughened longitudinally to insure a better holding of the cement which is arranged between the blocks.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3 each of the inner blocks 22 has its inner or concave surface 23 smooth and salt glazed as shown, and at one side edge each of the said blocks 22 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 24. At the opposite side edge each of the blocks 22 is provided with a longitudinally extend ing rib 25, registering with the groove at the opposite side edge of the same block and with the groove at the adjacent side edge of the adjacent block.-

The inner or convex face of each block 22 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 26, the said groove being of considerable width and having undercut side walls 27. Each block 22 is provided with four,

longitudinally extending chambers or recesses, a chamber or recess 28 near each side edge and two chambers or recesses 29 between the chambers or recesses 28.

Each of the blocks 30 of the outer series has its convex or outer face smooth and salt glazed as indicated at 31. One side edge each of the blocks 31 has a longitudinally extending groove 32, while at the other side edge of the block is a longitudinally extending rib 33, registering with the groove at the opposite side edge. The inner or concave face of each block 30 has a longitudinally extending groove 3a of considerable width, and the said groove has undercut side walls 35.

Each block 30 has four chambers or recesses, a chamber or recess 36 near each side edge and two chambers or recesses 37 intermediate its side edges, all of the chambers extending longitudinally of the block. Each side edge of the blocks 23 and 30 as well as the ribs and the grooves of the said side edges together wit the outer faces of the weave? blocks 22 and the inner faces of the blocks 30 are corrugated or roughened, including the side walls and bottoms of the grooves and the side walls and tops of the ribs.

It will be understood from the descrip tion that in Fig. 3 the blocks 22 are very similar to the blocks 30, the differences being only those necessary by the different conditions under which the blocks are used. Thus the grooved face of the block 22 is the convex face, while the grooved face of the block 30 is the concave face.

In Fig. 4 there is shown the arrangement of the blocks of each series with respect to each other, and the arrangement of' the blocks of one series with respect to the other series. From this view it will be seen that each block of either series staggers or partly overlies or underlies, as the case may be, four blocks of the other series. The blocks of the inner series are laid in courses, the courses extending longitudinally of the conduit, and each course is staggered slightly with respect to the preceding and the succeeding courses.

The blocks of each course are advanced slightly with respect to the blocks of the succeeding course, and the courses of the outer blocks or series are similarly arranged, the blocks of each course being advanced slightly with respect to the blocks of the preceding course. A plastic material, ca-

pable of hardening, as for instance, cement,-

as indicated at 38, is arranged between the blocks of each series, and between the series forming a mortar lock in the dove tails. This cementitious 'material is between the ribs and the grooves at the side edges of the blocks as well as between the faces of the blocks.

In either construction the walls are built up in the following inannerz-The blocks in one foot in width, and both series are built in courses or stag ered rings until the final or closin block of a ring or course is to be placed; t see whether they be in the inner or the outer series are engaged with the other blocks by movingthem longitudinally. As for instance, a transverse course or arch is laid, the inner blocks being laid upon a form if necessary, with the ribs 4 engaging the grooves 3 of the adjacent blocks, thepractice are about two feet in length by cementitious material being placed as they are laid, and the final block placed as before described. The cement or sealing medium is then laid on the outer faces of theinner series and the blocks of the outer series are engaged with the blocks of the inner series by placing the blocks of the outer series as above described for the blocks of the inner series, the ribs 20 fitting into the grooves 5.

in the construction of Fig. 3, the manner of laying is the same, and it will be evident that eac block of the inner series is mortar locked to four blocks of the outer series with a dovetail joint, such that outward movement of the blocks away from each other is not possible.

In Fig. 1 each of the ribs 10, which is formed between adjacent grooves 5 of a block, engages a groove having undercut side walls formed between two blocks 11. When two ofthe blocks 11 are arranged alongside each other a groove is formed between the blocks by the rabbeted portions 17 for receiving the rib 10 of the adjacent block of ,the inner series.

There is also a locking connection between the side edges of the adjacent blocks of both series due to the engagement of the ribs 4: with the grooves 3 of the inner series and to the engagement of the ribs 14' with the grooves 13 of the outer series.

It is obvious that as shown in Fig. 5., the ends of the blocks of either or both series in either or both embodiments of the invention might be rabbeted as indicated at 39, the rabbeted portion might havefits face parallel with the faces of the blocks] as indicated at 39 in Fig. 5 or the said faces might be undercut as indicated at 40 in Fig; 6. With the rabbeted arrangement there is an additional lock at the ends, while with the undercut rabbet there is a look also against longitudinal movement. 7

While those faces of the blocks which are to receive or engage sealing material are shown as roughened or corrugated, it is obvious that this is not essential. The said faces might be smooth, or the said faces might be scored, while the plastic series.

material is green. It is not essential that the ribs 4 and the grooves 3 have bottoms and tops perpendicular to the side walls, for

it is obvious that these ribs and grooves.

curve of the arch, each block having at one side edge a longitudinally extending groove, and at the other side edge a longitudinally extending rib, said ribs and rooves being adapted to interlock with t e ribs and grooves of adjacent blocks, the inner faces of the blocks of the outer series being provided on their inner faces with longitudinally extending ribs spaced apart from each other, andfrom the adjacent side edges of the blocks, and the outer faces of the blocks of the inner series being provided with longitudinally extending grooves spaced apart from each other and from the adjacent side edges of the block, and adapted to receive the ribs of the blocks of the outer "WILLIAM BEALL GRAY.

Witnesses:

H! M. WoLTRINo, J. W. linemen. 

